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Top 10 Things Every Student Should Know About the UW Tacoma Library

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Start your quarter off right by learning how to save time using library resources and services.

1. UW NetID + password = library access!

Use your UW NetID and password to access databases, request items in our catalog, and more. (This is the same username and password that you use for email and Canvas.)

2. The Library is here for you, anytime, anywhere.

The library is open 82.5 hours each week, and our electronic resources never sleep. Our website has information on when we open, Reference Desk hours, and holiday closures. Contact a librarian 24/7 using our chat service.

3. The Library stretches across two buildings.

The University of Washington Tacoma Library is located in two buildings on campus, connected by a sky bridge:

The Snoqualmie Building (SNO) houses two of our service desks, one near the front door for checking out films, music, laptops, tablets, and other equipment, plus the reference desk, for getting research help. Group study and practice presentation rooms are also located in Snoqualmie, as well as quiet study space—in the lovely, historic Snoqualmie Powerhouse Room.

The Tioga Library Building (TLB) contains our main circulation desk, where you go to check out library books—including course reserves—and to pick up library items that you requested. Most of our books reside in the Tioga Library Building, and all of the library space in TLB is a quiet study area.

4. We are 1 library serving 3 campuses, and beyond…

As a UW Tacoma student you have access to all UW Libraries materials—that’s over 8 million books, around 600,000 electronic books, and 300 databases! We are also part of a consortium of 39 regional academic libraries, which means you can request materials from these libraries, too.

5. If we don’t have it, we’ll get it!

If the item you want is still unavailable, you can use interlibrary loan service and we will search worldwide to find what you need.

6. Need technology? We have it.

The UW Tacoma Library has:

70 single-user computers

Group study/collaboration spaces:

4 large-screen collaboration spaces (located together in SNO 136, open when instruction is not scheduled, no reservations required)